MacTech News

Mar 27

Apple updates Pages, Numbers, Keynote

Along with iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4, Apple has posted updates for Pages, Numbers, and Keynote on both the iOS and macOS platforms.
The word processor, spreadsheet creator, and presentation tool have received Touch ID support on both platforms, allowing you to quickly open password-protected documents.
The Mac versions add support for the Touch Bar introduced with the 2016 MacBook Pro, as well as new leader lines that make pie charts easier to read and a simpler method for replacing fonts through an entire document.
Pages on both platform gets the ability to add math equations to documents using either LaTeX or MathML notation. You can add bookmarks to link from one part of a doc to another. You can import and export in Rich Text Format. New stock and currently functions provide up-to-date securities data in tables.
Numbers now lets you add current or historical stock information to your spreadsheets. You can use the new My Stocks Template to track your portfolio. While...

Mar 27

Apple rolls out iOS 10.3, macOS Sierra 10.12.4, watchOS 3.2,...

Apple has released iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4.
iOS 10.3 updates the file structure on an iOS device to the Apple File System (APFS). AFPS is optimized for Flash/SSD storage and features “strong encryption, copy-on-write metadata, space sharing, cloning for files and directories, snapshots, fast directory sizing, atomic safe-save primitives, and improved file system fundamentals.”
The upgrade also includes a new "Find My AirPods" ability, additions to Siri, CarPlay improvements, and some changes to Maps. Also, developers will be able to respond to customer reviews on the Apple App Store.
The iOS 10.3 update can be performed "over the air" through the software update feature on compatible iOS devices. Or you can download it via iTunes, then install it on a connected device.
macOS 10.12.4 brings iOS's Night Shift mode to the Mac, allowing users to cut down on blue light exposure. It also includes Shanghainese dictation support, cricket scores for Siri, and PDFKit improvements. The...

Mar 27

ProjectWizards conjure up Merlin Project 4.2

ProjectWizards (https://projectwizards.net/en) has conjured up Merlin Project 4.2, an update to their project management software for macOS.
Project managers who use multiple devices, or who work in small working groups, can now keep their projects updated via iCloud Drive or Dropbox — even if they're not running Merlin Server themselves. What’s more, Merlin Project 4.2 synchronizes all changes automatically, making them available to every project participant.
Merlin Project 4.2 is free for any licensed Merlin Project 3 or Merlin Project 4 user to update to version 4.2. The latest version of Merlin Project Go will be made available automatically via the Mac App Store. If you're a project manager and you're interested in trying out Merlin Project 4.2 for Mac, you test drive it for 30 days.

Mar 27

WWDC ticket lottery for developers starts today

Registered Apple Developer Program members can toss their names into the ticket lottery for this year’s Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) today at 10 a.m. (Pacific) at the Apple Developer website (https://developer.apple.com/wwdc/tickets/).
The 28th annual WWDC will be held at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. The conference will run June 5-9 and will focus on the latest versions of macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
WWDC allows developers from around the world to learn about Apple's platform technologies ranging from programming languages like Swift to developer APIs [application programming interfaces] like SiriKit, HomeKit, HealthKit and CarPlay. Developers will access to more than 1,000 Apple engineers with opportunities to meet and engage with them throughout the conference.
In addition to the keynote address, get-togethers, sessions and labs for developers, Apple is working with the city of San Jose and local businesses to celebrate the return of WWDC...

Mar 27

DupeZap for macOS zapped to version 4

Hyperbolic Software (http://www.hyperbolicsoftware.com/) has revved DupeZap, their modern duplicate finder developed exclusively for macOS, to version 4. The update was written specifically to reclaim disk space being taken up by duplicate files and packages.
Version 4.0 of DupeZap 4 requires macOS 10.11.0 or later. For a limited time, it’s available for $0.99 instead of the regular $19.99 at the Mac App Store.

Mar 27

FileWave announces support for upcoming Apple OS releases

FileWave (https://www.filewave.com) — which specializes in multi-platform device management, has announced support for Apple's upcoming release of iOS 10.3, macOS Sierra 10.12.4, and tvOS 11.2.
In addition to supporting the new features available in iOS, macOS, and tvOS, the company says FileWave 12 will build upon FileWave's long-time commitment to multi-platform support by adding Chrome OS to the list of supported operating systems. FileWave administrators can already manage macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android devices, and soon will be able include Chromebook devices – all from one console. Other features coming with the release of FileWave 12 include native UEFI imaging support and numerous improvements to FileWave Admin.

Mar 27

PhoneClean for macOS gets new user interface, more

iMobie has released PhoneClean 5, an update to their Mac utility for to removing all iPhone data permanently.
Before giving away or selling your old iPhone, the utility permanently wipes everything in it for absolute safety, including photos, messages, contacts, emails, browsing data, as well as your custom wallpaper, ringtones, and more. It also allows you to selectively eliminate sensitive data. Version 5.0 sports a new user interface and an Erase Clean feature.
PhoneClean runs on both macOS and Windows system. There’s a free version for basic cleanup and a pro version for more advanced solutions. The latter costs $29.99 for a personal license and $39.99 for a family license from iMobie's online store (http://www.imobie.com/phoneclean).

Mar 27

Package Central update for Adobe InDesign improves email handling

Zevrix Solutions has announced Package Central 1.9.17, a maintenance update to its packaging workflow automation tool for Adobe InDesign.
The app automatically collects InDesign documents along with their fonts and links from watched hot folders and offers customizable workflows, variable folder names, email notifications, preflighting and more. Version 1.9.17 addresses some stability and performance issues related to email delivery, metadata retrieval, and UI updates during error processing.
Package Central can be purchased for $149.95 from the Zevrix website (www.zevrix.com), as well as from authorized resellers. A demo is available for download. Package Central requires macOS 10.7-10.12 and Adobe InDesign CS5-CC 2017.

Mar 24

MacX MediaTrans 3.5 gets a tweaked user interface

MacXDVD Software has updated MacX MediaTrans (https://www.macxdvd.com/mediatrans/) to version 3.5. The tool offers extensive data transfer between Macs and iOS devices.
The redesigned user interface in version 3.5 provides improved responsiveness, extensive usability and cleaner navigation, empowering users to transfer movies, videos, songs, iTunes purchases and other data between iDevices and Macs quickly and easily, according to the folks at MacXDVD Software. I also supports iTunes 12.6 and iOS 10.3.
MacX MediaTrans is normally priced at $59.95 for a single license copy with life time free upgrade. However, it’s being offered for 76% off for a limited time.

Mar 24

Apple’s online store offline until 8:01 a.m. (Pacific)

Apple’s online store is offline until 8:01 a.m. (Pacific), when the (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus announced earlier this week goes on sale in more than 40 countries and regions around the world.
The PRODUCT(RED) iPhone 7 and will be available in 128GB and 256GB models for $749 and $869. The (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 Plus will be available for $849 and $969 prices.
Apple is also offering a lower priced 9.7-inch iPad to replace the iPad Air 2, as well as rolling out new storage tier options for the iPhone SE and the iPad mini 4.

Mar 23

MegaSeg 6.0.2 for macOS has over 30 improvements, fixes

Fidelity Media has released MegaSeg 6.0.2 (http://www.megaseg.com), an upgrade to the radio automation and DJ mixing system for macOS 10.6 and higher. The update features over 30 improvements and fixes including a new preset for Pioneer’s DDJ-SX2 controller, snappier segues, and many usability and interface optimizations.
MegaSeg is available in two editions. The $99 DJ edition focuses on core live mixing features with visual beat syncing via multitouch gestures, multiple outputs for headphone preview, MIDI control, automatic volume, advanced categorization, track logging, and integrated iTunes playlists. MegaSeg Pro ($199) adds video playback with ambient visuals, hot keys for triggering sound effects, automated music scheduling, advertisement messaging events, rules for applying artist separations, request lists with reminder notes, and more advanced features for professional DJs and VJs, radio stations, and hospitality businesses such as restaurants and retail.
Older versions of...

Mar 23

Tango Networks enhances iPhone user experience for UC Systems

Tango Networks (www.tango-networks.com), a technology provider extending full-featured enterprise mobility solutions for Unified Communications (UC) and voice applications, has announced iOS Apple CallKit availability for iPhone devices connected to UC systems.
Tango Networks’ Kinetic Communications Platform integration with iOS Apple CallKit extends enterprise communications to iPhone devices and works across any UC environment, allowing employees to use their iPhone’s native dialer for business calls. Tango Networks iOS 10 CallKit solution enables:
° The iPhone to be a mobile endpoint of any UC system.
° Users to make and receive business calls from the iPhone’s native dialee.
° Direct access to corporate directory and rich UC features.
° Enterprise enforcement and control over mobile business calls.
° Business calls made through high quality cellular networks.

Mar 23

MacX DVD Ripper Pro revved to version 5.5

MacXDVD (www.macxdvd.com) has released MacX DVD Ripper Pro 5.5, an upgrade to its flagship DVD ripper. The update extends the tool’s reach to non-UDF discs and main title check mechanisms. Plus, it’s faster.
The upgrade is available to all current MacX DVD Ripper Pro users at no charge. New users can get all the features and updates for $29.95 (50% off) for a limited time.

Mar 23

PopChar for macOS gets a maintenance upgrade

Ergonis Software (www.ergonis.com) has rolled out PopChar X 7.7, an improved version of the Mac tool for finding and inserting special characters and exploring fonts.
Version 7.7 offers metrics adjustments for eight new fonts, in particular some of Google's Noto fonts. This is scheduled to be the last maintenance release for PopChar 7, while Ergonis is already preparing to release the major new version PopChar 8 later this year.
PopChar X 7.7 requires macOS 10.6 or newer. It can be purchased on the Ergonis Software website. The upgrade to PopChar X 7.7 is free for anyone who owns a license for PopChar X 7. All PopChar X purchases made in or after September 2016 also include the upgrade to the major new version PopChar X 8.0 and all subsequent 8.x upgrades.

Mar 22

Comm-Unity releases version 2.1 of its CNS Image FileMaker Pro...

Comm-Unity Networking System has updated its CNS Image FileMaker Pro plug-in to version 2.1 which includes bug fixes, more thread-safety, and ] CNS Core updates. It’s available immediately at http://cnsimage.cnsplug-ins.com/ for both macOS and Windows.
CNS Image is a FileMaker plug-in for working with images stored in container fields or stored on the hard drive. On the most basic level, you can use CNS Image to import images from the hard drive into FileMaker container fields and Export images from container fields to the hard drive using hard-coded paths or dialogs.
However, Importing and Exporting images is only the beginning of CNS Image. The plug-in can do so much more with your images. You can rotate images; you can create small thumbnails in your database of a much larger images on the hard drive. You can split PDFs into multiple images and browse through them all from FileMaker. You can download images from the internet into a container field, and apply filters like...

Mar 22

Lucid Auction Lister for macOS gets improved interface, more

Lucid Sky Software has released Lucid Auction Lister 1.1.0 (http://www.lucidskysoftware.com), an update to the eBay auction manager application for macOS. Users can create listings, sell on eBay and manage sales with this auction lister.
You can manage and organize your current and past eBay listings. You can compare listing details, duplicate past listings, re-list auctions that have ended, revise running auctions and end auctions early. Lucid Auction Lister 1.1.0 sports an improved user interface with better list view readability. It also fixes minor bugs with overall enhanced functionality, as well as adds the ability to list, re-list and revise in batch. Users can also download and view eBay order information to help manage sales.
Lucid Auction Lister requires macOS 10.7 or later. It costs $7.99 and is available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Productivity category.

Mar 22

Agile Tortoise releases Interact Scratchpad for the Mac

Agile Tortoise has announced Interact Scratchpad 1.0 (http://agiletortoise.com/interact/mac ) for the Mac. The menubar app brings the popular natural language contact creation tools of Interact for iOS to macOS.
You can type or paste in blocks of text with contact information and let Interact parse names, addresses, phone numbers into a complete contact record in your default Contacts account. This lets you create new contacts, or add information to existing contacts quicker than ever, according to the folks at Agile Tortoise.
Interact Scratchpad is available for macOS 10.11 or higher. It’s available exclusively at the Mac App Store. To celebrate the release, it’s on sale for 50% ($1.99) through March 29.

Mar 22

ScaleMaster 2 released for macOS

RoGame Software (www.rogame.com) has announced ScaleMaster 2, an upgrade to the music app for macOS. The software was specifically designed to help with scales in a theoretical and practical context.
Serving as a practice environment and reference for over 200 scale types, ScaleMaster 2 includes 9 virtual instruments, a music notation interface, a full GM sound library and much more. Version 1.0.3 has been re-designed from the ground up with a modern interface.
ScaleMaster 2 (v1.0.3) costs $19.99 and is available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Education and Music categories. Educational discounts are available.

Mar 21

Apple releases iTunes 12.6 for iOS 10.3 and tvOS 10.2

Apple has updated iTunes for iOS and tvOS to version 12.6, which lets you rent videos once and watch them on multiple screens. However, it requires iOS 10.3 and tvOS 10.2, both of which are in beta testing.
With the “rent once, watch anywhere” capability, you can rent a movie on one device (iPhone, iPad or Apple TV), then finish watching it on another (iPhone, iPad or Apple TV). Prior to iTunes 12.6 you had to finish watching a film on the device from which you first rented it.
To get iTunes 12.6, launch the App Store app and click on the Updates tab at the top. You’ll see the iTunes 12.6 update, which is a free download.

Mar 21

Matrox unveils the Maevex 6150

Matrox Graphics (www.matrox.com) has previewed an all-new multi-4K capable stand-alone encoding appliance: the Maevex 6150 quad 4K encoder appliance. It affords the full feature set of the Maevex 6100 quad encoder PCI Express card, delivering quad 4K capture plus multiple encodes to stream and/or record at low bit rates.
Offering four or more channels simultaneously, the Maevex 6150 provides an all-in-one, dual density form factor with the additional IO befitting an appliance.
With flexible encoding administration options, the Maevex 6150 can be programmed and controlled with the included Matrox PowerStream Plus software, managed via custom applications using the PowerStream Plus API [application programming interface], or started/stopped directly on-device with designated on-appliance buttons.
According to Ron Berty, business development manager, Matrox Graphics, other Maevex 6150 features include:
° The ability to integrate 4K streaming and recording seamlessly into workflow, with...

Mar 21

Swift Playgrounds available in five additional languages

Apple’s Swift Playgrounds for the iPad is now available in five new languages including Simplified Chinese, Japanese, French, German and Latin American Spanish.
Playgrounds is designed to teach basic programming concepts like loops and conditionals using an animated character that the budding programmers direct by writing code. The app offers suggestions for code to be used, and Swift Playgrounds also has a special iOS coding keyboard to ease entry of all of those pesky brackets.
The app includes Apple-developed programming lessons, puzzles and challenges that teach core coding concepts, as well as built-in templates to encourage users to express their creativity and create real programs. And it takes full advantage of the power, simplicity and Multi-Touch capabilities of iPad. All programming lessons are now localized across five additional languages and are optimized to look even better and run faster than ever.
Swift Playgrounds is available free in the Apple App Store in...

Mar 21

Apple debuts Clips for iOS

Apple has debuted Clips, a new app that allows iPhone and iPad users to create “expressive videos.” It lets you combine video clips, photos and music into videos to share with friends through the Messages app, or on Instagram, Facebook and other social networks.
Clips also introduces Live Titles, a feature that lets users create animated captions and titles using just their voice. Effects including comic book filters, speech bubbles, shapes and full-screen animated posters.
Clips lets users create multi-clip videos on iPhone or iPad without timelines, tracks or complicated editing tools, according to Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Apps Product Marketing. Touch and hold a single button to shoot live video and photos, or add them from the Photo Library. Then add artistic filters, speech bubbles, shapes or emoji. Users can also add full-screen posters with animated backgrounds and customizable text. Clips has dozens of music soundtracks to choose from, and they automatically...

Mar 21

Apple updates the 9.7-inch iPad Pro

Apple has updated the 9.7-inch iPad, adding a brighter Retina display and improved performance with prices starting at $329. It’s apparently designed to replace the iPad Air 2.
The tablet features a Retina display with over 3.1 million pixels and is enclosed in a thin aluminum unibody enclosure weighing one pound for great portability and durability. It packs an Apple-designed A9 chip with 64‑bit desktop-class architecture. The front- and back-facing cameras offer exceptional low-light performance and HD video recording. The iPad has support for LTE cellular bands.
The 9.5-inch iPad comes in silver, gold and space gray and starts at $329 for the 32GB with Wi-Fi model and $459 for the 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model at Apple.com and Apple Stores. It also comes in 32GB and 128GB models. You can place an order on Friday, March 24.

Mar 21

Apple debuts iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus (PRODUCT)RED Special...

Apple has announced an iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition in red aluminum finish, in recognition of more than 10 years of partnership between Apple and (RED). Buy one and you contribute to the organization that seeks a cure for AIDS. The special edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone will be available to order online worldwide and in stores beginning Friday, March 24.
“Since we began working with (RED) 10 years ago, our customers have made a significant impact in fighting the spread of AIDS through the purchase of our products, from the original iPod nano (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition all the way to today’s lineup of Beats products and accessories for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a press release. “The introduction of this special edition iPhone in a gorgeous red finish is our biggest (PRODUCT)RED offering to date in celebration of our partnership with (RED), and we can’t wait to get it into customers’ hands.”
(RED)’s work provides access to HIV/...

Mar 20

Urban Armor Gear unveils protective case for 2016 MacBook Pro

Urban Armor Gear (urbanarmorgear.com) has released its latest drop-tested cases for Apple's fourth generation MacBook Pro (13-inch and 15-inch models). The cases are made to fit both versions with and without the new Touch Bar.
Urban Armor Gear's $79.99 MacBook Pro cases feature a translucent design that complements the slimmer, lightweight body and refreshed ports while providing three layers of protection from daily wear and tear and unexpected drops. The company's signature slim design has been independently tested to meet or exceed US military drop test standards (MIL-STD 810G 516.6) and incorporates a tactile grip on the hinge, providing a secure hold for transition from work to play.
UAG's new MacBook Pro cases are enhanced with impact-resistant rubber bumpers at the corners and skid pads underneath. They also sport cooling vents and a Dual-Lock secure closure system.

Mar 20

Apple releases eight public, developer betas of macOS Sierra 10....

Apple has released an eight beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.4 for developers and public beta testers.
The upgrade brings iOS's Night Shift mode to the Mac, allowing users to cut down on blue light exposure. It also includes Shanghainese dictation support, cricket scores for Siri, and PDFKit improvements.
If you're not already signed up for the public beta program, you can do so at https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/. The public beta program is free, but remember: beta software is unfinished software so use with care.
The developer beta can be be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center — if you’re a registered developer, that is.

Mar 20

Screen Commander 1.0 released for macOS

Alien Orb Software has introduced Screen Commander 1.0, a screen blanking utility for macOS. Developed for users with multiple displays, it lives in the menubar as a small icon and provides screen blanking options at the click of the mouse.
Screen Commander lets you blank other displays while watching a movie, playing a game, or focusing on some work on a particular screen. You can blank out other screens when they’re not needed and quickly unblank them again on demand.
"I wrote Screen Commander to scratch a personal itch," says Brian Christensen, owner of Alien Orb Software. "Having extra displays connected to my iMac is really great for getting work done, but sometimes I just want to watch a movie or play a game without the added distraction of those additional screens."
Screen Commander requires macOS 10.12 or later. It’s freeware and is available exclusively through the Mac App Store (http://tinyurl.com/kt78jcg) in the Utilities category.

Mar 20

Mac users can create art with their Photos using GoArt

Everimaging has (http://www.everimaging.com) introduced GoArt 1.0, a photo editor for macOS. It lets you take a photo and apply artistic filters based on the works of art.
GoArt offers over 40 different styles of art to choose from. Everimaging sayks it will release more artistic effects on a regular basis.
GoArt uses "fine art" presets based on the artistic styles of history's most admired artists, including Van Gogh, Monet, and Picasso. The app can also create works based on various styles of art, such as Impressionism, Pop Art, Expressionism, Structuralism, and more.
According to Maggie Wu, marketing manager at Everimaging, GoArt is the world's first AI [artificial intelligence] artistic app that allows anyone to export an HD image and make it possible to print their own works. The app lets you export your images in a high-definition format, up to eight megapixels in size.
GoArt doesn’t require an Internet connection to process images. All the work is done on the Mac.
GoArt...

Mar 17

Apple to open two new R&D centers in China

Apple has announced plans to set up two new R&D centers in China. The hubs will be located in Shanghai and Suzhou, following previous plans to open two centers in Beijing and Shenzhen.
Apple has committed to invest more than 3.5B yuan (approximately $507.1 million) in Chinese research. Beijing’s R&D center — expected to be completed this year — has a registered capital of approximately $14.994 million and will hire a total of 500 employees. It will be located in the Zhongguancun Science Park, a technology hub in the Haidian District of Beijing, China.

Mar 17

MacPractice to develop and release MacPractice EDU

MacPractice, Inc. has announced plans to develop and release MacPractice EDU next generation dental school software and invited dental educators to participate in a North America Advisory Council.
The company is the developer of macOS native MacPractice DDS, MacPractice MD, MacPractice DC, and MacPractice 20/20 multi-discipline and multispecialty software and interoperating iOS native MacPractice Patient Check In, Clipboard and iEHR Apps for Apple's iPad.
MacPractice will demonstrate MacPractice DDS at the American Dental Association (ADEA) Annual Session in Long Beach, CA in Booth 240 on March 19-20. MacPractice invites educators to see MacPractice and speak with Mark Hollis CEO about MacPractice EDU. The company has also invited their partner Aqua Connect to demonstrate their ability to run MacPractice in a macOS terminal session in Windows, a capability that will be required by schools that adopt MacPractice while they transition from Windows to Macs, as 61% of companies of all...

Mar 17

Apple Watch Mac CRM App available for small business users

Gro Software (https://www.grocrm.com) has introduced Gro CRM for Apple Watch. It’s a Mac CRM Sales Platform designed exclusively for the iPhone, iPad and the Apple small business market.
According to the folks at Pro Softwre, it lets you “monitor the pulse of your small business with a simple turn of the wrist.” Gro CRM for iPhone and Apple Watch work together with minute-to-minute updates on the the health of your business. You can use the Gro CRM Apple Watch app to monitor daily, monthly and yearly revenue statistics, monitor new leads and more in real time.
Gro CRM includes both customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource management (ERP) features and functionality. Features include a real-time dashboard, the ability to track contacts and accounts, manage leads and opportunities, communicate with clients, schedule followups and tasks, create quotes and invoices, create purchase orders and manage inventory. Additional features include email integration, receipt...

Mar 16

Apple releases new developer betas of iOS 10.3, macOS Sierra 10....

Apple has released the seventh developer betas of iOS 10.3, macOS Sierra 10.12.4, and watchOS 3.2. Developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center or the Software Update mechanism in the App Store.

Mar 16

IK Multimedia debuts Fulltone guitar & bass effects...

IK Multimedia has launched the Fulltone Collection for AmpliTube for Mac/PC, which offers guitarists and all musicians a palette of sounds that span from classic to contemporary tones.
Guitarist and composer Michael Fuller founded Fulltone back in 1991, with the aim of building stompboxes that sounded as good as vintage pedals, but that were more rugged and reliable than the old, often fragile classics. IK Multimedia's Fulltone Collection includes three processors. Guitarists, keyboard players, composers, producers, sound designers and mixing engineers can now take advantage of all the mojo and feel of the original Fulltone hardware but with all the practicality of AmpliTube's ease of use.
The Fulltone Collection is available from the IK Online store (www.amplitube.com/fulltone) and from within AmpliTube Custom Shop for $59.99. The TERC and SSTE can be purchased as single processors for $34.99 each. The OCD is available as a single pedal for $24.99.

Mar 16

Nearly half of iPhone users are uncomfortable storing personal...

Nearly half of iPhone users have little or no confidence in storing their personal information on iCloud, according to a survey of 1,001 iPhone users conducted by Clutch (https://clutch.co/), a business-to-business (B2B) ratings and reviews firm. Forty-seven percent (47%) of iPhone users said they are only "slightly" or "not at all" comfortable with storing personal information on iCloud. Meanwhile, 44% of respondents said they are "very" or "somewhat" comfortable with doing so.
iCloud, Apple's cloud storage and computing service for iOS devices, has at least 782 million users, and is one of the most popular cloud storage services in the United States.
Clutch's survey asked respondents whether they know iCloud's function and found a correlation between knowledge of the function and comfort with storing personal information on iCloud. Users unfamiliar with iCloud's function are less likely to be comfortable storing personal information on the service. Industry experts suggested that...

Mar 16

WePay doubles down on Apple Pay, Android Pay

WePay (www.wepay.com) — a provider of integrated payments for online platforms including Constant Contact, GoFundMe, and Zoho — has announced that its customers can now use Apple Pay on the Web and Google's Android Pay on the Web to generate more revenue on their sites.
WePay's launch of the Apple Pay and Android Pay products means platform customers can now pay for goods and services with just a single touch. Gone are the days of having to manually enter payment and shipping information at checkout, said Bill Clerico, CEO of WePay. Customers can choose to pay with Apple Pay using the Safari browser on their supported iPhone, iPad, or MacBook. Those who opt for Android Pay can pay using the Chrome browser on their supported Android device.
Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Payment Request API [application programming interface] are available to current and new WePay platform partners.

Mar 16

FiLMic announces log video recording for iPhones

FiLMiC Inc. (www.filmicpro.com), which specializes in high-end mobile video technology, has announced general availability of the “first true logarithmic (Log) recording capability ever for mobile devices.”
This feature will be available as an optional purchase for iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. With Log shooting, a cinematographer is able to capture more useful dynamic range from the image and increase the flexibility for post-production editing and color grading.
"For my new feature film (‘The Florida Project’), using the Log capability in FiLMiC Pro enabled us to shoot iPhone footage and edit it back to back with 35mm footage, knowing that it's going to hold up after color grading and CGI are added,” said Sean Baker, co-writer and director of the Sundance hit ‘Tangerine.’ “Not only did this open up new shooting opportunities but it allowed for narrative experimentation and as a storyteller that's exactly what you want.”
FiLMiC Pro v6 includes a range of new features including a suite of...

Mar 15

Winclone 6 for Mac released by Twocanoes Software

Twocanoes Software has released Winclone 6, an upgrade to its Boot Camp cloning and migration software for the Mac.
The software lets you clone Windows on a Mac Boot Camp partition. The update features support for migrating Boot Camp to new MacBook Pro models, an updated interface, a new toolbar, in-app purchasing, file-based cloning, read/write mounting of NTFS volumes and support for Windows WIM format for package-based deployments.
Winclone 6 requires macOS 10.11 or higher, Windows 7 64-bit (on supported Mac hardware) or higher including Windows 10, and a Boot Camp partition.
A basic license (non-commercial, one license per computer) costs $19.9. A standard license (commercial and personal, one license for up to two computers) is $39.99. A pro license (commercial, one license for up to 50 Mac client endpoints): costs $249.99. Educational and Institutional Pricing is available
All volume license customers that are currently enrolled in Twocanoes’ “Support and Maintenance program”...

Mar 14

ConceptDraw Website Wireframe Solution gets a free update

CS Odessa (www.conceptdraw.com) has announced a new Website Wireframe solution for ConceptDraw Pro, which is now available in ConceptDraw Solution Park.
The solution — compatible with macOS 10.10 and higher — provides a toolset for website designers and developers, visual designers, and business analysts who use ConceptDraw Pro in their prototyping work. Website Wireframe provides graphical user interface elements, predesigned icons, symbols, buttons, graphics, forms, boxes, and many other vector elements that greatly simplify user interface studies for web site construction.

Mar 14

Apple posts new watchOS 3.2, tvOS 10.2 developer betas

Apple has seeded new builds of watchOS 3.2 and tvOS 10.2 to developers for testing. They’re available for download at the Apple Developer Center.

Mar 14

Time Out 2.2 for the Mac adds ability to optionally track breaks...

Dejal has released Time Out 2.2 (http://www.dejal.com/timeout/), an update to their break reminder app for macOS.
Using a computer for hours on end can lead to eye, back, and neck strain. Time Out offers users gentle reminders to take breaks, allowing them to stretch and relax. Version 2.2 adds the ability to optionally track breaks and app activity in a chart.
Time Out 2.2 requires macOS 10.10 or later. It’s free, and is available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Health and Fitness category, as well as the Dejal website. Advanced features are available via in-app donations.

Mar 14

MailSteward 11.4.2 for macOS supports AWS Relational Database...

Pubblog has announced MailSteward 11.4.2 (http://mailsteward.com), an update to their email archiving solution for the Mac.
The app archives email in a relational database for easy access and safe backup of all your email. Version 11.4.2 fixes a minor bug, and supports Amazon Web Services (AWS) Relational Database Service. Easily create a MySQL or Amazon Aurora MySQL database instance on your AWS account using the RDS service and connect to it with MailSteward Pro.
MailSteward 11.4.2 costs $49.95. There’s a “lite” version for $24.95, and a “pro” version for $99.95. A demo is available for download.

Mar 13

Apple releases new iOS, macOS developer betas

Apple has released the sixth developer betas of iOS 10.3 and macOS 10.12.4. Developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center or the Software Update mechanism in the App Store.

Mar 13

Intel to acquire Mobile for $15.3 billion

Intel (www.intel.com) has announced a $15.3 billion acquisition of Israeli automotive technology company Mobileye N.V. The $63.54-per-share deal will bring Mobileye’s leadership in the development of computer vision and machine to Intel.
The deal is expected to close within the next nine months, Intel said. Shares of Mobileye jumped nearly 32% on the news.
Intel says self-driving cars will represent a $70 billion market by the year 2030. Each self-driving car on the road will generate 4 terabytes of data per hour by the year 2020, the company estimates.
“This massive amount of data requires all of Intel’s assets to provide the cost-effective high performance solutions our customers need,” CEO Brian Krzanich wrote in a memo to employees. “The addition of Mobileye to our family provides the data path to our computing solutions becoming the intelligent set of eyes that will allow a vehicle to see and define the world around it.”

Mar 13

Flyer works with Apple’s Messages app

A company called Flyr (www.flyrtv.com) has launched what it says is the first interactive storytelling platform, enabling instant hypermedia content creation through automated design and video editing. It works with Apple’s Messages app, as well as Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Using Flyr's "Tinder for Graphic Design" creation tools, Snapchat Discover-style videos can be designed with tap-and-swipe gestures. According to co-founder Hassan Uriostegui, Flyr’s artificial intelligence-powered story creation works in two ways: it algorithmically generates unlimited combinations of layouts, colors and designs, while also suggesting millions of photos, videos and GIFs based upon your story.
The stories are played through Flyr's proprietary rendering/game engine, making videos interactive, editable and able to link to anywhere on the Internet. Users can find and insert almost any online media asset. You can add hyperlinks with the ability for users to go to any website, article...

Mar 10

Swift among the 10 most popular programming languages

Apple’s Swift is now among the 10 most popular programming languages, according to the Tiobe Index (http://www.tiobe.com/), which measures the popularity of programming languages on a monthly basis. It’s the first time it’s made the list. About three years ago Apple announced that it would replace its "ancient" native mobile app development language Objective-C by its newborn language called Swift.
“The expectations were high right from the start, but adoption took off slowly. That is for good reasons by the way because the installed base of Objective-C code is quite large,” note the folks behind the Tiobe Index. “New applications are written in Swift, whereas old apps that are written in Objective-C are not actively migrated to Swift. This is also what we observe at customer sites. Since Swift is mainly intended to write applications in Apple's ecosystem, it is expected that it won't rise much further.

Mar 10

Innovation Project 2017 welcomes ‘iPod Godfather’ Tony Fadell

Tony Fadell — the founder and former CEO of Nest, creator of the Nest learning thermostat and one of the creators of the iPod and iPhone — will challenge Innovation Project 2017 (http://www.innovationproject.com) delegates, to think differently about the potential that “connected devices” and “internet of things” offer to payments and commerce innovators.
His opening fireside chat with PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster will share insights drawn from his experiences with Apple and Nest to refocus the conversations about connected devices and Internet of things to how the potential to connect any device to the internet and capture data can become a commerce enabler. Fadell and Webster will be joined by Visa EVP, Jim McCarthy, to discuss the role of the payments network in igniting and scaling those opportunities.
Innovation Project convenes on March 15-16. This is the fifth annual Innovation Project, an event that gathers the most influential players in payments, commerce, and retail for two...

Mar 09

PDF Expert for macOS revved to version 2.2

Readdle has updated its PDF Expert app (https://pdfexpert.com) for macOS to version 2.2. The upgrade sports a redesigned user interface, better search features, and more.
PDF Expert lets you read, annotate and edit PDFs, change text and images, fill forms, and sign contracts. A demo is avaiable for download. Registration is $59.99

Mar 08

Fifth developers betas of iOS 10.3, watchOS 3.2, tvOS 10.2...

Apple has seeded the fifth betas of iOS 10.3, watchOS 3.2, and tvOS 10.2 for developers to download and test. They can be be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center.

Mar 08

Comm-Unity Networking Systems updates CNS Query FileMaker

Comm-Unity Networking Systems has released CNS Query 2.1, which includes a CNS Core updates like FileMaker 15 support and better thread safety, especially under FileMaker Server.
CNS Query is available immediately at http://tinyurl.com/q96xmx2 for both macOS and Windows. You can download a demo copy of the plug-in to test it out before purchasing. If you purchased CNS Query or MMQuery any time from March 8, 2015, until now, you can install this latest version free of charge.
If you purchased MMQuery any time before March 8, 2015, you can renew your license and upgrade to CNS Query for 25% off the current price. For new users, CNS Query prices range from a single user license for $35 to a world license for $585 (which includes a free server license). A server license Query for use with FileMaker Pro Server/Server Advanced is $325. A developer's license of CNS Query is $685.

Mar 08

FileMaker Cloud is now available in EMEA

FileMaker, Inc. (www.filemaker.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple, has announced that its cloud platform for managing and running custom apps, FileMaker Cloud, is now available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
In addition to the U.S.-based data centers in Oregon and N. Virginia, customers may select from the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Regions of Ireland and Frankfurt. FileMaker Cloud provides the simplicity, performance and reliability of the FileMaker Platform without having to spend time and resources deploying and maintaining a server, according to Ann Monroe, vice president of worldwide marketing, FileMaker, Inc.
FileMaker Cloud provides organizations looking to develop and manage custom mobile apps with minimal administrative overhead, speedy deployment, low up-front costs and instant scalability, she adds. This builds on FileMaker's commitment to empower organizations of all sizes to improve business operations through custom app solutions.
FileMaker Cloud...

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Alfred 3.4.1 - Quick launcher for apps a...

Alfred is an award-winning productivity application for OS X. Alfred saves you time when you search for files online or on your Mac. Be more productive with hotkeys, keywords, and file actions at... Read more

Maintenance 2.2.7 - System maintenance u...

Maintenance is a system maintenance and cleaning utility. It allows you to run miscellaneous tasks of system maintenance:
Check the status of the hard disk
Repair permissions
Run periodic scripts... Read more

NeoOffice 2017 - Mac-tailored, OpenOffic...

NeoOffice is a complete office suite for OS X. With NeoOffice, users can view, edit, and save OpenOffice documents, PDF files, and most Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.
NeoOffice 3.x... Read more

SyncTwoFolders 2.2.4 - Syncs two user-sp...

SyncTwoFolders simply synchronizes two folders. It supports synchronization across mounted network drives and it is a possibility to run a simulation showing in a log what will be done.
Please visit... Read more

Hopper Disassembler 4.2.13- - Binary dis...

Hopper Disassembler is a binary disassembler, decompiler, and debugger for 32- and 64-bit executables. It will let you disassemble any binary you want, and provide you all the information about its... Read more

iFFmpeg 6.4.3 - Convert multimedia files...

iFFmpeg is a comprehensive media tool to convert movie, audio and media files between formats. The FFmpeg command line instructions can be very hard to master/understand, so iFFmpeg does all the hard... Read more

Firefox 55.0.2 - Fast, safe Web browser.

Firefox offers a fast, safe Web browsing experience. Browse quickly, securely, and effortlessly. With its industry-leading features, Firefox is the choice of Web development professionals and casual... Read more

FileZilla 3.27.1 - Fast and reliable FTP...

FileZilla (ported from Windows) is a fast and reliable FTP client and server with lots of useful features and an intuitive interface.
Version 3.27.1:
Fixed Vulnerabilities:
Change client... Read more

Merlin Project 4.2.7 - $289.00

Merlin Project is the leading professional project management software for OS X.
If you plan complex projects on your Mac, you won’t get far with a simple list of tasks. Good planning raises... Read more

Dashlane 4.8.4 - Password manager and se...

Dashlane is an award-winning service that revolutionizes the online experience by replacing the drudgery of everyday transactional processes with convenient, automated simplicity - in other words,... Read more

Latest Forum Discussions

War Wings is the newest project from well-established game maker Miniclip. It's a World War II aerial dogfighting game with loads of different airplane models to unlock and battle.
The game offers plenty of single player and multiplayer action. We... | Read more »

How to win every 2v2 battle in Clash Roy...

2v2 is coming back to Clash Royale in a big way. Although it's only been available for temporary periods of time, 2v2 has seen a hugely positive fan response, with players clamoring for more team-based gameplay.
Soon we'll get yet another taste of... | Read more »

Roll to Win with Game of Dice’s new upda...

Joycity’s hit Game of Dice gets a big new update this week, introducing new maps, mechanics, and even costumes.
The update sets players loose on an exciting new map, The Cursed Tower, that allows folks to use special Runes mid-match. If you feel... | Read more »

Bottom of the 9th (Games)

Bottom of the 9th 1.0.1
Device: iOS iPhone
Category: Games
Price: $4.99, Version: 1.0.1 (iTunes)
Description:
Play the most exciting moment of baseball in this fast-paced dice and card game!
| Read more »

The best apps for viewing the solar ecli...

If you somehow missed the news, many parts of the United States will be witness to a total solar eclipse on August 21 for the first time in over 90 years. It'll be possible to see the eclipse in at least some capacity throughout the continental U... | Read more »

The 5 best mobile survival games

Games like ARK: Survival Evolved and Conan Exiles have taken the world of gaming by storm. The market is now flooded with hardcore survival games that send players off into the game's world with nothing but maybe the clothes on their back.
Never... | Read more »

Supercell has been teasing fans with 2v2 windows that allow players to team up for limited periods of time. The Summer of 2v2 was just this past July, but players are already clamoring for more of that sweet, sweet team-based action.
The fans have... | Read more »

The best deals on the App Store this wee...

It seems like the week's only just started, and yet here we are with a huge pile of discounted games to sort through. There are some real doozies on sale this week. We're talking some truly stellar titles. Let's take a look at four of the best... | Read more »

The iOS community is in late summer holding mode awaiting the September arrival of the iPhone 8 and iOS 11. iOS 11 public betas have been available for months — number six was released this week —... Read more

Samsung Electronics Launches New Portable SSD...

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. has announced the launch of Samsung Portable SSD T5 – its newest portable solid state drive (PSSD) that raises the bar for the performance of external memory... Read more

TrendForce Reports YoY Gain of 3.6% for 2Q17...

Market research firm TrendForce reports that the global notebook shipments for this second quarter registered a sequential quarterly increase of 5.7% and a year-on-year increase of 3.6%, totaling 39.... Read more

Amazon has new 2017 13″ 2.3GHz/128GB Silver MacBook Pro on sale today for $100 off MSRP including free shipping. Their price is the lowest available for this model from any reseller:
– 13″ 2.3GHz/... Read more

WaterField Unveils Collaboratively-Designed,...

In collaboration with customers and seasoned travelers, San Francisco maker WaterField Designs set out to create the preeminent carry-on system to improve the experience of frequent fliers. The... Read more

Miya Notes Mac-Client for Google Keep (Launch...

MacPlus Software has announced te launch of Miya Notes for Google Keep 1.0, a powerful Mac-client for Google Keep. Millions of people use Google Keep on their phones and online, but a convenient Mac... Read more

Apple refurbished iMacs available starting at...

Apple has previous-generation Certified Refurbished 2015 21″ & 27″ iMacs available starting at $849. Apple’s one-year warranty is standard, and shipping is free. The following models are... Read more

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